By Andy Robson

Bet

Former QPR player and manager Iain Dowie believes that Mark Hughes needs more time to allow his summer signings to settle into the side.

The Welshman's position is widely thought to be hanging by a thread after Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to Southampton left the Rs four points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League and still looking for a win after 12 games.

Despite investing heavily on attackers over the last year, QPR have only managed 9 goals this season, the joint-lowest total in the league.

But Dowie told Sky Sports News: "Mark's a very experienced manager and he'll understand that when you don't get results you come under pressure but, with the sheer number of players that have come in, it takes time to gel.

"I felt they were outplayed on Saturday and that will be the big disappointment for Mark and his coaching staff. Southampton looked the more creative side, which will be a big concern."

Dowie, whose last club as both a player and a manager was QPR, does not subscribe to comments criticising the current squad as lacking effort on their battle to escape the drop, claiming that Hughes has always instilled a work ethic in his teams.

"Sometimes, when things aren't going your way, people throw up the line about players not trying," he continued. "When you look at the likes of [Ryan] Nelsen and [Jamie] Mackie, I think they do have players who'll demand effort. Mark's sides have always been that way."